(Courtesy of AMIT) AMIT Hammer Junior and Senior High School for Boys won the Education Ministry’s national prize for educational excellence, beating out dozens of other schools across Israel being considered for the prestigious award.

Education Ministry Director-General Shmuel Abuhav informed Principal Rafi Maimon that his school will be receiving the top honor from Minister Naftali Bennett.

Over the last seven years, AMIT Hammer has undergone an incredible transformation, both academically and in the school’s individualized approach to each student. The results are evident: The school’s bagrut (graduation) rate jumped from 45 percent to 91 percent. At the same time, the school added a junior college (grades 13 and 14), which includes a pre-army technological preparatory program that trains students to become engineers in the fields of electronics, computers and electricity.

The is just the latest in a string of achievements for the school. Last year, AMIT, the leading educational network in Israel, bestowed its national award on AMIT Hammer. The prize recognized the school’s development of a small-classroom track for special education. “This great achievement belongs to the educational staff and to the students for their investment and dedication and the spirit they infuse into the heart of the school,” said Principal Maimon.

He also thanked the Rehovot municipality for its support, including Mayor Rahamim Malul and Deputy Mayor Zohar Blum, as well as the Education Ministry and the AMIT network led by Director-General Amnon Eldar.

Two other AMIT schools—AMIT Gutwirth Sderot and AMIT Elaine Silver Technological School in Beersheva—were among the 10 finalists in the high school category for the prize.